California State University at Fresno pushed back Thursday against faculty claims that a search for an assistant professor in Middle Eastern studies was canceled earlier this spring over the Middle Eastern backgrounds and Palestinian research interests of final candidates.

"In the Edward Said Professorship search, we did not recognize improper search approvals and search committee formation in a timely manner," the university said in a statement. "No department had actually approved the search, and the search committee was not formed by an election of the department members as is required by our policies. We admit we were too slow and should have canceled this search much earlier based on these academic policy violations."

Note: Articles listed under "Middle East studies in the News" provide information on current developments concerning Middle East studies on North American campuses. These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of Campus Watch and do not necessarily correspond to Campus Watch's critique.